Electric-lamp socket.



A. L. JACOBS.

ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1010 1,01 3, 658. Patented Jan.2,191 2,

WZ/LGSSGES.

wer P anaemia moons, on Boston, MASS.

CI-IUSETTS, AEtSIGNDIt. 'BY MESIIE ASfiIGI'IlYIENTE,

TO JENNIE ltl'. JACOBS, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETT ELECiiBIG-LAMP sooner.

Specification of Iietters itatciit.

Patentc d. Jan. 2?, iii- 123 Application filed May 16, 1910. Serial No. 561,611.

Ltlii n'ifiei.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'knowu that l, lin'rnun L. il'soons, a izen of the ll'nited States, residing at on, in the county Suilolk and State l invented new and in Electric-Lamp arch the following is a speci- Another object of my invention is to provide a socket in which there shallbe a double brea I, that is, two breaks will. occur simultaneously in the electrical connections of the same polarity.

The object is still further to provide a socket in which the key-shaft shall be in sulated thereby obviating the dangers incident to the use of a non-insulated shaft.

The invention consists in the novel features ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts set. forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

'lteferrin to the drawing: 9 elevation, partly in section, of a socket embodying my invention, the usual exterior casing therefor being omitted. Fig. 2 is a plan section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the socket. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4l 03E 1, looking toward the right showing the Figure 1 is an position which the parts occupy when thecircuit is broken. Fig. 5 1s a sectional view similar to Fig. 4. except that the parts are shown in the position which they occupy when the circuit is closed. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the conductor which constitutes one of the lamp terminals. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the con which constitutes one of the wire .nnnals together with its spring contact pi ce. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the 1, the two insulating llliEBIS of which "re partly 1r away andshown in secto show the mode of attachment of the refer to like parts throughviews 0:55 drawing. the it} is the base of the socket, which base comprises two blocks 11 ciated by those skilled in the and 12 formed of insulating material, preferably porcelain, and provided, respectively, with cavities l3 and 14 forming together a shoulder 15 fo." the switch niechani in. "Within the shoulder 15 is located a l6 constituting aspring having two 1 latively movable parts 17 and 18, the form of said spring being such as to render said parts resilient so as to be capable of considerable movement without getting a permanent set. Between the parts 17 and 18 is located a rotatable cam 19 which may be formed either of metal or of some non-conducting material, such as porcelain, preferably the latter. 7

By making the cam of insulating mate rial, a much desired result is attained, viz, the key is insulated and consequently can, with perfect safety, be provided with a metallic thumb-piece which can have special finishes like the socket casing and in this way a much more artistic appearance is given to the socket than could be effected were the key-shaft non-insulated, in which case a thumb-piece of insulating material would be necessary. Moreover, even if it be desired to employ a non-conducting thumbpiece, still the insulated key-shaft is an advantage since the rubber thumb-pieces are apt to break off, leaving the bare shaft which may be a source of danger because not only is the shaft itself charged, as in.

most sockets, but the casing will also become charged if the shaft becomes displaced and touches the casing. These disadvantages are overcome by employing the non-conducting cam which causes a double break and yet does not constitute switch-block. This feature of my improved socket is one, the advantages of which will be readily apprea'rt.

The cam 19 is provided with a hole 20 through which extends a key shaft 21 carry ing on its outer end a thumb piece 22, said key shaft being provided lateral projections 23 formed in the cam 19 said recesses being segmental in form and bolu of such e; nt as to permit a certain amount of re rotation between the key shatt 19 in the usual and well. known manner. conductor 25 constituting a lamp torn ial is provided with a horizontal portion no ror contact with the lamp and extends vertically through a passage 27 formed in the it he block 12 into the cavity 1 1 and being pro vided with. a horizontal portion 28 extend vided in an l..-shaped spring contactpiece 30 which also extends between the abutting faces oi. the blocks 11 and 12, said-blocks be ing provided,respectively, with shallow recesses 31 and to receive these parts. The block 11 is still further provided with a recess 33 adapted to receive the spur 29.

On the opposite side of the base is a coir doctor 34 shown in detail in Fig. 7, said conductor having a horizontal portion 35 coated in a corresgs; hiding recess 86 provided the block 12, said conductor being prodcd with an car 37 screw-threaded to re- *e a screw 38 provided for the attachment one ofthe line wires. The conductor 34 p ovided, with a projection 39 extending iivardly into the cavity 14 and said rotor is also provided with'a spur all in a hole provided in an l-shaped contact piece 4:1, portion or which tween the abutting faces of the with recess 4.2 to receive such part (5! contact piece. The block 11 is rovided with a recess 43 adaptclve the spur 4:0. A screw-threaded metallic shell 44 conone oi the lamp terminals is pro-- vidcd i .th an inwardly turned ange to surrounding a boss 46 formed on the block 12, said flange being provided with a hole 'fthrough which passes a screw l8, said screw extending also through holes 49 and 50 provided in the blocks 11 and 12, respectively, and said screw terminating in and having screw-threaded engagement with a plate 51 hearing against the under side of the flange 45, said screw thus serving to rig.- idly connect the shell 4-1 and the blocks 11 and 12.

On the opposite sides of the boss is a conductor 52 provided with a, screw-thread to receive a screw 53 for the connection of one of the line wires, said conductor extending I through a hole 55% formed in the block 12 and having a horizontal portion 55 extending beneath the flange 45, said horizontal portion being provided with a screw-threaded hole 56 which receives a screw 57, said screw extending through holes 58 and 59 provided in the blocks 12 and 11, respeclively, and serving to rigidly connect saidhloclcs to each other and to the shell i l.

llhc screws ll-l and E 7 constitute the sole means for securing" the lamp terminals, the line wire terminals and 1 itch mechanism in place, all oil the pi. rts or the socket be ing first loosely as -.1,

iblcd otter which said screws inserted, thus completing the socket.

t. and 12, the block 11 being pro The operation of the socket is as'f'ollows: Fig. l shows the position which the parts occupy when the circuit 'is broken. The key 22 is grasped in the fingers and rotated, thereby rotating the cam 19 into the position shown in Fig. 5, said cam acting to spread the parts 17 and 18 of the spring 16 and cause the same to contact with the spring contact pieces 30 and 41, said contact pieces yielding and insuring perfect contact. If new a lamp should be screwed into the shell 14 the electrical circuit would be complete, the current passing through the conductor shell .4, the lamp, the conductor 25, 0011-.

tact piece 30, spring 16, contact piece 41 and conductor 35 t0 the line wire. If new the switch shattbe rotated from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the'position shown in Fig. 4:, the cam 19 will be carried thereby and during its rotation will be given a sudden impetus by the spring parts 17 and 18 and will arrive in the position shown in Fig. 4-. During this movement the hpring parts 17 and 18 are simultaneously eeps rated from the spring contact-pieces 30 and il and thus the circuitis broken at two points in the electrical connections of the same polarity.

If the cam 19 be formed of. insulating material the spring 16 will, of course, constitute the sole conductor between the contact pieces 30 and 4-1, but if said cam be formed of metal a part of the current will, or course, how therethrough.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is: i

1. An electric lamp socket having, in combination, a base composed of two blocks of insulating material placed face to face and.

provided, respectively, with cavities 'for.m ing a chamber, two conductors extending between the opposed faces 01' said blocks and held by their engagement therewith, and

a switch mechanism located in said chamber adapted to electrically connect said conductors.

2. An electric lamp socket having, in combination, a base composed of two blocks of insulating material placed face to face and provided, respectively, with cavities-forming a chamber, a spring located in said chamber and held in place therein by contact with. the walls thereof, said spring having two relatively movable parts, two conductors extendingbetween the opposed laces of said blocks and held in place by their engagement therewith, and a rotatable member located in 1d chamber and adapted to be rotated to'acinate said spring parts to make electrical connection between said comluctors.

3. An electric lamp socket having, in c0rnbinaliion, a base composed of two blocks of insulating material placed face to face,

' iore saicl mechanism being held in ipiegee lio SBC'llIjB said blocks to each other,

anism ii terengaging with said blocks and adapted to electrically connect said conducopera- Q time position solelgi by its interengagemen'n' with 'saicl blocks. o

4.. An electric lamp socket having, in combination, a base composed of two blocks of insulating material placed face to face and provided, respectively, with cavities forming a chamber; means to secure said blocks to eachother, a switch mechanism located in said chamber, and i ve conductors extend-- 111g between the opposed ends said block,

said mechanism anclsaicl. conductors being held in operative position solely by the engagement of said mechanism with the Walls of said chamber and by ihe engagement of said conductors with the opposed ends of Said blocks. a e

In testimony whereof I have herei'mic set my hancl in presence two subscribing; wienesses. I

7 ARTHUR L JEILGOEEL Witnesses;

Lows A. JONES? V EECUAEQTHY. 

